February 2016

Well, there’s still no word on when The Life of Pablo will officially be released (or if it’s even finished), but it looks like Kanye West is cracking on with his second album of 2016, the tentatively titled Turbo Grafx 16 (named after his favorite gaming system as a kid). Last night Ye’s long-time barber Ibn Jasper snapped Yeezus in the lab with Kid Cudi, Plain Pat and Mike Dean. “TURBO GRAFX 16 day 1 #PABLo #MikeDean #CUDi #PlainPat,” he wrote. Let’s just hope there’s more “beautiful morning” and less “bleached asshole” on this new album.

Complex’sSneaker Shopping show was on the hunt once again for some rare footwear as they touched down at NYC’s newest consignment sneaker shop Stadium Goods. This time, Joe La Puma brought along the New York Mets Ace Matt Harvey, who currently reps Nike, and has some deeps to the Jordan Brand.

The baseball star is a UNC graduate (where MJ played ball in college, duh) and has an extensive love of the Air Jordan 11s. In the segment, he also lets the world know that Nike is dropping his signature shoe this March.

Leonardo Dicaprio finally received his just due on Sunday night (Feb 28) after taking home his first Oscar award for his lead role in The Revenant. DiCaprio earned his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993).

After being nominated for the first time 23 years ago, it was his time to shine. And guess what social issue he chose to address…

There’s been a few clips of this included in Kanye West mini documentary shows before, but here’s an extended look at some home footage of 12-year old Yeezy rapping. He looks happy as ever as the camera zooms in on his developing emcee skills. With all the controversy surrounding ‘Ye lately, I’d say this is refreshing to watch — to say the least.

With the wait for Gucci Mane to come back down to the streets getting shorter and shorter, comes a previously unheard cut from Gucci and several artists he knows well. Judging from the verses, it’s safe to say this was in the stash for a while but rappers Dre P, Rich Homie Quan, Bankroll Fresh and Young Scooter all touched the track.

As I’ve watched on Stacey Dash turn from one of my earliest crushes — ever since Clueless — to a person I just can’t seem to figure out, she made another bold, and borderline bizarre, move at the 2016 Oscars.

By now, I’m sure you you either watched or heard about her surprise moment. However, you might not have caught her lengthy explanation about why she chose to wish everyone a Happy Black History Month after Chris Rock introduced her as the “new director” of the Oscars’ “Minority Outreach Program.”

It’s been two years since Cormega dropped the Mega Philosophy LP with Large Professor, but it looks like he might have something new for us in 2016. With his “Savages” co-star Gunplay riding shotgun, ‘Mega drops knowledge on this new joint, “Guns and Butter.” Fellow New Yorker Harry Fraud supplies the cinematic production that’s spliced with a few Baby Boy samples for good measure.

Chris Rock did an excellent job of voicing the cries of all who are sick of seeing the lack of racial diversity at the Oscars. While some of his peers boycotted and wrote off the annual award show, Rock took the opportunity to address the issue head on — and he didn’t slack on calling out the blatant racism in the movie industry one bit. After the jump, watch how Chris opened the 2016 Academy Awards with the facts mixed his trademark humor.

“It’s the 88th Academy Awards,” said Chris Rock. It’s the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole no black nominees thing has happened at least 71 other times. O.K.? You gotta figure that it happened in the 50s, in the 60s — you know, in the 60s, one of those years Sidney didn’t put out a movie. I’m sure there were no black nominees some of those years. Say ‘62 or ‘63, and black people did not protest.”

“Our main story tonight — and I can’t believe I’m saying this — is Donald Trump,” opened John Oliver during last night’s episode of the Last Week Tonight, in which he delivered an absolute masterclass in How to Destroy a Presidential Candidate In 21 Minutes.

Days after his BRIT Awards performance, The Weeknd attended the 88th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, CA on Sunday night. Fresh off winning two Grammy Awards, the Toronto singer took to the Dolby Theatre stage to perform the song “Earned It” off the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack.

Backed by dancers and string section, the XO crooner showed off his vocals with a live rendition of the Oscar-nominated song that’s up for “Best Original Song.”